MONTREAL -- The Senators are trying to waive goodbye to goalie Martin Gerber.

The Senators abruptly ended Gerber's two-week conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate in Binghamton yesterday, sent him back to Ottawa and, in a move first speculated by Sun Media, placed him on waivers in hopes that somebody will pick up the balance of his $3.7-million (all terms US) contract for the rest of the season.

If, as expected, Gerber, 34, clears waivers today at noon, the Senators will likely place him on re-entry waivers in hopes that another team claims him. Under that scenario, the Senators would be on the hook for about $750,000 of the $1.5 million remaining on his contract.

"He would like to stay in the NHL. I don't know what (the Senators) are going to do, but I would hope that if they put him on re-entry that somebody will be willing to pick him up at half-price. The guy is a good goaltender," Gilles Lupien, Gerber's agent, said yesterday.

"Everybody is disappointed they didn't win. Nobody is happy with this situation. The team isn't happy. (Gerber) isn't happy. This isn't what anybody wanted. Hopefully, there is a team that is willing to pick him. I can't say for sure, but I'd say it's a maybe."

There aren't many teams looking for goaltending help. The Islanders are going to be without Rick DiPietro for the balance of the season, but they already passed on Edmonton's Dany Sabourin, who makes considerably less than Gerber, on waivers recently.

There has been mild interest from a team in Europe, but the Senators want to exhaust all North American options before making that decision. The possibility exists he could return to Binghamton, where he made 32 saves in a 3-0 shutout win over Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Assistant GM Tim Murray said the Senators will explore their possibilities on the weekend and then meet with Gerber to decide his fate.

The Senators' decision means that rookie goalie Brian Elliott, who has a 3-1-1 record with a 2.82 GAA and a .924 save percentage, is going to remain in Ottawa for the balance of the season.

Murray said the Senators are willing to use re-entry if somebody lets them know they're going to pick up Gerber. He has a 4-9-1 record with a 2.86 GAA and .899 save percentage this season.

"We haven't really (had any interest from Europe)," said Murray late Wednesday in Binghamton. "I think we've had one call, and it was the same thing as I said to you guys, we'll wait and see what happens with waivers, and whether teams are interested or not.

"And we don't know that. And we may get a call saying that a team may be willing to pick him up on re-entry. I mean, there's a bunch of things that could happen. So I just think we just ... wait 'til (tomorrow) and then go from there."